1:47 Stratford Tips

Unfortunate when stumbling at the finish in his only Irish point and showed improvement in bumpers last season. Failed to justify the support on his debut at Perth over hurdles, but it is evident that he possesses the potential to perform much better.

The Skeltons come in this race with Brace For Landing, and it is well regarded based on the performance it had in April in a juvenile race where it got second place. The going is soft, and he likes it, so he may be in the placings.

Won at Bangor back in April, and gave a good account last time out at Worcester to take 3rd on a longer course when returning from a 167-day break. This should be easier and back to winning distance this time around.

There are a couple of interesting looking novice hurdles today at Stratford and one that has caught my eye is BLUE SKY DREAMING for Alan King and Robert Waley-Cohen. As with nearly all Waley-Cohen's home breds, this gelding has a lovely pedigree being a grand-son of the same owner's exceptional mare, Liberthine. In a recent Alan King stable tour, the trainer stated 'I think he is one of my better novice hurdlers' and as the opposition looks moderate, I want to chance him at decent odds.

PARK TALK led on hurdle debut at the start of the month until the 2m point of a 2m 2f race before fading fast, beaten into 3rd place by 37 lengths (well clear of the rest though). He will have gained a lot fitness and experience-wise from that, and the drop back to 2m today is also in his favor. Worth an each-way bet for in-form trainer Harry Derham and with the services of the experienced and in-form jockey, Jonathan Burke, who also has a good record at Stratford.

This is another last-time-out winner (form ...041) in a race full of them. However, this horse is priced at 23.00, which is a massive discrepancy. The win was convincing enough to suggest it can get involved here. The odds are simply too big for a horse in winning form. Interesting outsider.